Sam Smith: That’s a lot of ifs there, which isn’t quite a plan yet. I’m not optimistic about Ball, though we all hope he can play again. But if he can come through yet another surgery, it’s actually unfair to expect him to return to a high level of play after basically not playing for three years. And the way it’s sounded almost learning to walk again. I do believe he will play in the NBA again, but it seems a lot to expect it to be next season to the point you look at it like him in 2020. Grant Hill took several years and a team change to finally get back to helping a team after missing several seasons. And a different team. Zach’s that big elephant with all the trade talk and what seemed apparent attempts to make a deal. Things change as I’ve pointed out previously with angry never play again guys like Kobe and Hakeem. And Zach never has said or suggested anything like that. Just what’s the fit now with Coby and Ayo and if DeMar comes back and they still have Caruso, whom Donovan depends on so much, and there’s Williams who needs to get to the wing. I agreed about not going for the draft picks as no one wants a repeat of that wishing for lottery luck for four years, though it’s turning out the Coby selection may be one of the best in franchise history. But that’s still too much losing to go through again. The Bulls have enough talent now in the East at least to dream. So to me they don’t need an overhaul as much as maybe a really high quality new wheel. -via NBA.com / February 19, 2024
Lonzo Ball still unable to sprint
